RI condemns use of chemical weapons in Syria

The government has condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria, which has caused civilian deaths.

“The international community should not let the situation in Syria get worse. If proven, the use of chemical weapons marks the lowest point of conflict in Syria,” said Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa in a press statement issued by the Indonesian permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Marty conveyed the government’s stance on the sidelines of his meeting with UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson at the UN headquarters, New York, on Monday.

The minister said the international community should put pressure on Syria so that the perpetrators of chemical weapon warfare could be brought to justice.

“We need to support the UN’s efforts to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria. The international community also needs to make sure that the perpetrators of such an inhumane attack take responsibility for their actions,” said Marty.

As previously reported by international media, 355 people died almost simultaneously in Syria last week after displaying neurotoxicity symptoms, according to Doctors Without Borders.

The report emerged shortly after opposition groups accused the Bashar al-Assad government of launching chemical weapon attacks in eastern and southwestern Damascus that killed 1,300 people.

In the meeting, Marty highlighted again the role of the UN, in particular the Security Council, in resolving situations that could threaten international peace and security.

Through Marty, Eliasson conveyed respect for Indonesia for its role in the Asia Pacific and in the post-2015 global development framework setting. (ebf) 

NO CHEMICAL WEAPON IS NOT MEANT UN CHEMICAL WEAPON TO SYRIAN PEOPLE